Adverse Drug Events Are Common Just After Hospitalization

Discussion of adverse drug events (ADEs) in older adults often focuses on Beers-criteria medications that are considered to be “potentially inappropriate” for anyone in this age group; drugs with adverse central nervous system effects, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and several cardiovascular drugs dominate the Beers list (J Am Geriatr Soc 2012; 60:616). In this study of 1000 consecutive hospitalized patients (age, ≥65), researchers focused specifically on ADEs that occurred during the 6 weeks after hospital discharge. All patients lived in the community (not in long-term care facilities).

At least one ADE occurred in 19% of cases. One quarter of ADEs were considered to be serious or life-threatening, and one third were considered to …